PROJECT: GLOBE Climate Legislators Initiative – Phase 1

The GLOBE Climate Legislators (GCLI) is dedicated to advancing the legislative response to climate change in 33 key countries and, by doing so, to help create the political conditions for success in the UNFCCC negotiations under the Durban Platform. CDKN’s Technical Assistance and Advocacy Fund outputs therefore co-funded Globe International for their national and international climate change work respectively.

The GCLI has strengthened the domestic response to climate change in participating countries, assisting them to enact climate related legislation which can enable the implementation of climate compatible development policies and plans. A key focus, particularly in developing countries, has been improving legislation to increase resilience to the impacts of climate change and to reduce disaster risk. By progressing national climate change legislation, it is hoped that countries can be more ambitious in the international negotiations and create greater links between legislators and negotiators.

The GCLI was phased. In phase One (autumn 2012 to April 2013), Globe International:

held a ministerial-level launch of the GCLI with Christina Figueres and produce a briefing setting out how national climate legislation can encourage greater ambition in international negotiations

began preliminary work in CDKN deep engagement countries to identify and engage with influential cross-party legislators and understand what is needed to advance legislation and how legislators can work with negotiators to support greater ambition in international talks.

GLOBE were actively fundraising for Phases 2 and 3. Phase Two (May 2013 to April 2014) included recruiting a local country director, training/capacity building (where required), development of country action plans including more detailed analysis of existing laws, specific recommendations for amendments to existing legislation and, as necessary, drafting dedicated climate legislation and coordination of national GLOBE positions on relevant domestic policy making issues

Phase Three (May 2014 to end of 2015) included formally presenting draft amendments/legislation to parliament and building cross-party political support for passage; strengthening the scrutiny role of legislators, on climate-related issues, including on the national budget.

Project Highlights

Extreme weather events and tides have highlighted the acute vulnerability of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). CDKN received this report from the Office of Minister Tony de Brum of the RMI, who is calling for countries to turn the crisis into an opportunity for climate leadership.[more…]